Diary Kept by Hannah T. McGaw, a Teenager Living in New York City

New York City: 1850-1853. Journal binding of quarter black morocco with marbled boards, 8 x 6.5”, containing 53 pp of ink and pencil manuscript. Inscribed to front endpaper: “Hannah Thornton McGaw—May 26th—1853. Private Journal.” In very good condition with mild wear to covers.

A journal kept by Hannah Thornton McGaw (1835-1915), a teenage girl living in New York City in the early 1850s. McGaw was the daughter of John A. McGaw, a prosperous merchant who moved from Boston to New York City in 1845, and engaged in the clipper ship trade. The first 14 pages of the journal cover the spring and summer of 1850, with McGaw introducing the book as a “Sunday journal”, meant to record her thoughts after attending weekly church: “This Thursday thinking it would be very profitable to keep a Sunday journal I asked Miss Mankin for a blank book. No one but myself knew for what purpose she gave me this book.” (2/3/1850). She writes periodically about the keeping of her journal, adding later on that “I never undertook to write a journal before, and so my thoughts I have written down just as they come into my head.” (4/7/1850)

In this section, McGaw records her pious thoughts each Sunday, including her time in church and her view of herself as a sinner, i.e. “Today I have been unusually wicked and it does not seem as though I have kept the Sabbath as I ought. I have prayed my heavenly father to forgive me for all manner of transgressions but yet I feel very sad” (June, 1850). She also writes about gaining admittance to the church, whereupon the pastor gifts her and the other girls a book and a letter. During this time, McGaw attended the Spingler Institute for Young Women, a school for women in Manhattan that "received widespread praise for the intellectual rigor of its curriculum.” The school operated between 1843 and 1858. Its founder, Gorham Abbott, was a pioneering educator of young women, who influenced the work of Matthew Vassar, and “himself insisted that the students’ education there be ‘equal to those of our sons’ (Vassar Encyclopedia). Thus, the diary contains an account of a visit by the students (a.k.a. the “Spingles”) to West Point, as well as an description of the commencement ceremonies, and McGaw’s grief at being parted from her classmates:

“Last Friday a large party of us young ladies of the ‘Spingles’, with Mr. Vikers Abbott visited West Point…and never hardly in my whole life did I enjoy myself so much. Everything is lovely—And the Cadets are so fascinating. One cadet Mr. H. De Beuve was with us all the time…Miss Haslet and I were joined by a Mr. Morgan from Tennessee, but we did not receive his attention not having been introduced.” (6/9/1850)

“Parting with so many dear girls, whom I love so much has lowered my spirits…We had speeches from Prof Ewing and Mr. Athens, very fine the latter. Alas! He is going away and never to teach us more…gave most all the girls his autograph. I was afraid to ask him though. Dear, darling Matilda I parted from her also…If I could only see Matilda once more…” (June, 1850)

In the end, McGaw’s father pulls her from school, much to her chagrin. The diary picks up again in 1853, with McGaw living with her family in New York City and working as a schoolteacher. In June of that year, she pens an account of the 1853 commencement at “Old Spingler”, and writes wistfully about failing to finish her schooling:

“Fannie and I dressed and started for Old Spingler…We had a very excellent address from Mr. Hawkes and one of the most beautiful gems from Prof. Ewing that I ever listened to…Libbie McMaster is his favorite this year among the graduates—as Miss Forbes was of last years and Harriet of the year before—Miss Schultz read the valedictory—quite a fine production—Mr. Abbott made a very long and I must confess tedious address…I could not help it but I would laugh—everything was so ludicrous it seemed to me at that time—and there was Mr. Hawkes looking at us, as solemnly as could be, that I only acted worse…I feel so sad. I wish so now I could have graduated—but I could not…But this enough of school longings and regrets…Prof Ewing—how near earthly perfection he is. I wonder if he will ever marry again…” (6/22/1853)

The bulk of the 1853 portion of the diary, however, is concerned with McGaw’s daily life, and especially her social life. She writes about her sisters Harriet and Helen, notes her sewing, reading and shopping, and discusses a dizzying series of social comings and goings, including her impressions of the callers, and the gossip of the day. Much of the latter concerned young men, especially those come to court her sisters or other friends, as well as the young men whose eye McGaw hopes to catch:

“Dr. Davis from Lowell and James Thornton called—I was better pleased with Dr. D than I was before—but Mr. Thornton I dislike the looks of much. How Belle and Ellen can like him I can’t imagine. Mrs. Scranton and her sister came in the afternoon—they are very agreeable…I think Dr. C—really likes Harriet very much—but she says she never would marry him in the world…Miss Schultz and Clara Cunningham called—they were all full of Mr. Ewing—thinking him as near perfection as anyone would be in which I heartily agreed.” (June, 1853)

In fact, McGaw throughout worries about failing to marry and becoming an “old maid”:

“We had quite a talk about getting married—Mrs. B. seemed to be of the opinion that there was no danger of either of us being old maids. That there was time enough for me yet. How many tell me such things—and yet I do think I shan’t be married. Harriet will, but I am not good or wise enough.” (6/6/1853)

“Mrs. R—said she was going to do something—though no match-maker, yet she had set her heart—if friends could get a young lady married I am sure I ought to be, for so many are interesting themselves for me in that way.” (6/16/1853)

She expresses her wish for men to notice her and her satisfaction when they do. However, she can also be overtaken with shame and embarrassment after spending time with them:

“After supper Cap. Champlin made his appearance and a little after eight Mr. Atkins and Mr. Hawkes called. Mr. A. was just the same—handsome and splendid as ever. We got into quite a discussion on slavery but just as we were interested and I was beginning to flatter myself that I could entertain two gentlemen at once—Mr. H. gave the usual signal, a slight movement forward, and all my embarrassment returned—they stayed some few moments after…I cannot seem to make myself agreeable to Mr. H—If I only had Matilda’s conversational powers.” (6/10/1853)

Finally, laid into the diary is a leaf containing four pages of diary entries documenting a trip to New Hampshire undertaken by McGaw and her sisters around this time. Item #15843

Price: $750.00